ss.8.CG.3.3 Structures/Functions of Govt (Assessment #s)

This table shows the structure of the three branches

of the U.S. government. 

Which pair best completes this table?

• Congress and Cabinet 

• House of Representatives and Senate

• Senate and U.S. District Courts

• Circuit Courts and 

  Congress

Answer explanation

Article I outlines the structure of the legislative branch as bicameral, including a House of Representatives and Senate.

A is Incorrect - Congress is the legislative branch but the Cabinet falls under the executive branch.

C is Incorrect - The Senate is part of the legislative branch but U.S. District Courts are part of the judicial branch.

D is Incorrect - Congress does refer to the legislative branch but Circuit Courts are part of the judicial branch.

Which part of the U.S. Constitution outlines legislative power?

• First Amendment

• Bill of Rights 

• Preamble 

• Article I 

Answer explanation

Article I of the U.S. Constitution lists the powers of Congress, the legislative branch.

A is Incorrect- The First Amendment lists the rights of expression protected by the federal 

government.

B is Incorrect- The Bill of Rights provides a list of protections guaranteed to individuals including expression and the rights of those accused of crimes, and the powers reserved to the states.

C is Incorrect- The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution outlines the goals and purposes of government.

Which describes the general powers of the executive branch?

• making the law 

• enforcing the law 

• regulating the law 

• interpreting the law 

Answer explanation

According to Article II of the U.S. Constitution, the executive branch has the power to enforce the law.

A is Incorrect- The legislative branch makes laws.

C is Incorrect- The laws themselves serve as rules/regulations. It is not the role of any of the three branches of government to “regulate the law”.

D is Incorrect- The judicial branch interprets laws.

Which branch of the national government makes laws?

• bureaucracy

• legislative 

• executive 

• judicial 

Answer explanation

The legislative branch makes laws.

A is Incorrect- The bureaucracy is part of the executive branch. The executive branch is responsible for enforcing laws.

C is Incorrect- The executive branch enforces laws.

D is Incorrect- The judicial branch interprets laws.

Which presidential action was based on Article I of the U.S. Constitution?

• President John F. Kennedy’s statements about missiles in Cuba

  President Franklin 

• Roosevelt asking Congress to declare war on Japan

  President Dwight 

• Eisenhower’s statements about communism in Africa

• President George H. Bush asking Congress to commit troops for Gulf War I

Answer explanation

Article I includes Congress’ power to declare war; presidents do not have a formal role in declaring war, although presidents have asked Congress to declare war. President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan the day after the Japanese government attacked the Hawaii territory (Hawaii is now a state).

A is Incorrect- Article I includes Congress’ power to declare war; presidents do not have a formal role in declaring war, although presidents have asked Congress to declare war. Presidential statements, such as Kennedy’s statements about missiles in 

another country, are based on Article II foreign policy powers and not Article I of the U.S. Constitution.

C is Incorrect- Article I includes Congress’ power to declare war; presidents do not have a formal role in declaring war, although presidents have asked Congress to declare war. Presidential statements, such as Eisenhower’s statements about communism, are based on Article II foreign policy powers and not Article I of the U.S. Constitution.

D is Incorrect- Article I includes Congress’ power to declare war; presidents do not have a formal role in declaring war, although presidents have asked Congress to declare war. Presidential requests of Congress to commit troops during international conflicts are based on the president’s Article II power as commander-in-chief power.

This passage is from a speech by President George W. Bush on March 19, 2003. 

On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine

Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concentrated campaign.

What constitutional role justifies the actions described in this passage?

• commander-in-chief 

• negotiator-in-chief 

• chief legislator 

• chief regulator 

Answer explanation

The president is the highest civilian officer in the military. As commander-in-chief, the president has the power to order military strikes.

B is Incorrect- The U.S. Constitution gives the president the power to negotiate treaties. This power is not presented in the passage.

C is Incorrect- The U.S. Constitution gives the president the power to sign or veto legislation. This power is not presented in the passage.

D is Incorrect- The U.S. Constitution gives the president the power to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” which includes the regulation powers held by the executive branch. This power is not presented in the passage.

This newspaper headline describes an event in U.S. history. 

Which parts of the national government participated in the process described in this newspaper headline?

• Senate and President 

• Supreme Court and 

  President

• House of Representatives and Senate

• Supreme Court and House of Representatives

Answer explanation

Article II of the U.S. Constitution delegates the power to negotiate treaties to the president and requires all treaties be ratified through the Senate.

B is Incorrect- The U.S. Constitution does not delegate power in the treaty making process to the Supreme Court.

C is Incorrect- The U.S. Constitution does not delegate power in the treaty making process to the House of Representatives.

D is Incorrect- The U.S. Constitution does not delegate power in the treaty making process to the House of Representatives or the Supreme Court.

This newspaper headline describes an event in U.S. history. 

Which part of the national government initiated the process described in this newspaper headline?

• Senate 

• Vice President 

• Supreme Court 

• House of Representatives 

Answer explanation

The U.S. Constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole power of 

impeachment. The Senate then has the power to try all impeachments and convict with a two-thirds vote.

A is Incorrect- The Senate does not bring articles of impeachment. The Senate holds the impeachment trial and votes whether to remove an official from office or not.

B is Incorrect- The vice president does not initiate articles of impeachment. The office of vice president has no role in the impeachment process.

C is Incorrect- The Supreme Court does not bring articles of impeachment. The Chief Justice oversees the impeachment trial of a U.S. president.

This statement is from a congressional document on July 27, 1974. 

Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of

constitutional government to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the

manifest injury of the people of the United States. 

Source: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary 

How have similar statements influenced modern congressional actions?

• presidential impeachment 

• presidential nomination 

• presidential election 

• presidential veto 

Answer explanation

The statement outlines the reasons that President Richard Nixon was being impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives.

B is Incorrect- Congress does not have the power to nominate.

C is Incorrect- The words in the passage do not speak to elections; the words in the passage focus on how President Nixon acted against the U.S. Constitution.

D is Incorrect- Congress does not have the power to veto legislation.

This statement was made by U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy in 1987. 

President Reagan is still our President. But he should not be able to…impose his… vision of the Constitution on the Supreme Court and on the next generation of Americans. No justice would be better than this injustice. 

How have similar statements influenced the actions of government?

• Congressional confirmation of presidential nominations

• Congressional confirmation of presidential pardons

• Senate confirmation of presidential appointments

• Senate confirmation of presidential vetoes

Answer explanation

A presidential appointment to a federal court is subject to Senate approval. Presidents must appoint an acceptable nominee so that the Senate will confirm the president’s choice.

A is Incorrect- Congress does not confirm 

nominations; confirming nominations is solely the responsibility of the U.S. Senate.

B is Incorrect- A presidential pardon is not confirmed by Congress. A presidential pardon may not be vetoed by Congress.

D is Incorrect- A presidential veto is a rejection of a bill that has been passed by Congress. Vetoes may be overridden by Congress but may not be confirmed.